Two more tankers struck as Gulf attacks persist and shipping costs spike

· Shipping · Iran · Saudi Arabia

Two more tankers were struck by unidentified projectiles in separate incidents near the Strait of Hormuz and in the northern Persian Gulf, adding to a growing series of attacks on merchant ships. The strikes come as oil flows from the Middle East show little sign of buckling, with shipments near prewar levels, according to Bloomberg. At the same time the International Energy Agency reports the cost of shipping crude from the Middle East Gulf to Asia has surged to more than $37 per barrel, over five times prewar levels, as routing and insurance grow more complex. The attacks and resulting freight and insurance costs are reshaping tanker economics across the region.

Why it matters：Repeated strikes on merchant ships and a fivefold rise in Gulf-to-Asia freight costs raise insurance and routing costs for tanker owners and could shift global crude flows if attacks persist.

Key points

  • Two tankers were hit by unidentified projectiles in separate incidents
  • Middle East oil shipments remain near prewar levels despite attacks
  • Gulf-to-Asia crude shipping costs exceed $37 per barrel, over five times prewar levels

Sources (original reporting)

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